\ 



,B7 



87 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER 



ON THE PART OF MARYLAND, 



FOR THE 



Re-locating and Re-marking 



OF THE BOUNDARY LINE 



BETWEEN 



Pvlaryland and Virginia 



In Tangier aisd Pocomoke Sounds. 



Hon. THOS. S. HODSON, 

Commissioner for Maryland. 



EEon. BENJ. T. aUNTEH, 

Commissioner for Virginia. 



1898. 




Qass "V \ %J^ 

Bool c-B"! f^^-7 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER % 



ON THE PART OF MARYLAND, 



FOR THE 



Re-locating and Re-marking 



OF THE BOUNDARY LINE 



BETWEEN 



IVLaryland and Virginia 



In Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds. 



Hon. THOS. S. HODSOIS^, 

Commissioner for Maryland. 

Hon. BENJ. T. GUISTTER, 

Commissioner for Virginia. 



-1898." 







27530 



HANZSCHE & CO., 

PRINTERS AND ENGRAVERS, 

BALTIMORE, 



% 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER 

ON THE PAPvT OF MARYLAND, 



FOR THE 



Re-locating and Re-markinj 

OK THE BOUNDARY LINE 

BETWEEN 

M:_A^RYLA.IS^D and V^IROIlSrii^ 

In Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds. 



His Excellency, Lloyd Lowndes, 

Governor of Maryland, Annapolis, Md. 
Dear Sir : 

I have the honor to transmit herewith the joint report 
of Engineers W. C. Hodgkins and J. B. Baylor as to their opera- 
tions in the recent re-locating and re-marking of the line in Tan- 
gier and Pocomoke Sounds. But a few words of explanation on 
my part, in addition to this report, will suffice. 

There has been, for some years past, at various times, trouble 
between the citizens of Maryland and the Oyster Police Force of 
Virginia, along the line between the two States. Arrests of per- 
sons and property by the Virginia Oyster Police have been made 
affecting citizens of Maryland, who have invariably appealed to 
the Executive of this State, claiming that the arrests have been 
made while they were pursuing their daily labor, either of oyster- 
ing or crabbing, within the territory of Maryland. As these 
offences took place on broad waters, in which there was no visible 



4 Report of Commissioner for Maryland. 

mark or monument to define the Boundary Line, honest differences 
of opinion could have existed and doubtless did exist. The ten- 
dency in each State was to believe its own citizens and to discredit 
and blame those of the other State. This state of things pro- 
duced great friction and damage, and was the cause of great 
anxiety to the Executive. While every proper impulse of his 
nature led him to espouse the cause and redress the wrongs of 
injured citizens, yet it was first necessary to know whether or not 
the parties charged were within our own territory. In one instance, 
the case of Capt, B. F. Marsh's vessels, the joint Committee of 
the Legislatures of the two States agreed that the arrest was made 
in Maryland, by the Virginia authorities. 

It was therefore plain that the line must be clearly and perma- 
nently marked, in order that unscrupulous men might not have 
it in their power, if they chose to do so, to plunge the sister States 
into a continuous state of semi-warfare. It became necessary to 
do this to enable good citizens to establish and maintain their 
rights, and that trespassers and maurauders might be exposed and 
known in their true characters. 

With these objects in view, on the 26th day of May last, you 
issued to me a commission, authorizing me, in conjunction with a 
a Commissioner on the part of Virginia, to re-locate and mark the 
Boundary Line between the States, in Tangier and Pooomoke 
Sounds ; on receiving it I at once arranged to visit Richmond, Va. 
and confer as your agent and at your request with Gov. Chas. T. 
O'Ferrall. I visited Richmond at an early day, accompanied by 
Mr. Dallam, your Secretary of State. Gov. O'Ferrall received 
us kindly, acknowledged the importance of the proposed action 
and agreed to appoint, at once, a Commissioner, on the part of 
Virginia, to co-operate with me in re-marking and re-locating 
the line. 



Report of Commissioner for Maryland. 5 

After waiting a month or more I addressed a letter to Gov. 
O'Ferrall, calling his attention to the matter, and he replied very 
courteously that he would appoint a Commissioner at an early 
day. Again, on August 31st, I addressed him a letter on the 
subject, to which I never received a reply. Finally, on October 
25th, I received your letter, in which was contained the letter of 
Gov. O'Ferrall, as follows : 

His Excellency, Lloyd Lowndes, 

Governor of Maryland, Annapolis, Md. 
Dear .Sir : 

Yours of the 20th inst. is at hand and is entirely satisfactory. 
I have appointed Mr. Benjamin T. Gunter, Jr., of Accomac County, a 
Commissioner on the part of Virginia. His P. O. address is Accomac 
C. H., Va. 

I suggest that the services of two Engineers of the U. S. Coast and 
Geodetic Survey be secured — one to be selected by each State. 
Awaiting your early reply, I remain, with respect, 
Your obedient servant, 

CHAS. T. O'FERRALL, 

Governor of Virginia. 

I at once put myself in communication with the Virginia Com- 
missioner, who informed me that he had received the notice of his 
appointment only, and that to his request for instructions he had 
received no reply. 

About the middle of November, I was informed at the office of 
Secretary of the Treasury, Gage, that at the direct request of Gov. 
O'Ferrall, he had appointed Mr. J. B. Baylor of the Coast and Geo- 
detic Survey as Engineer on the part of Virginia. I at once informed 
Mr. Gunter, who had not been apprised of this appointment, 
although he had expected it. Mr. Gunter came to see me and we 
talked over matters generally, and it was agreed that it was 
proper to consult the Light House Board and the War Depart- 
ment before putting down any permanent marks in navigable 



6 Report of Commissioner for Maryland. 

waters, such as might be considered obstructions to navigation. 
As Mr. Gunter was obliged to return to Accomac it was agreed 
that I should attend to this. Accordingly, on November 22nd, I 
visited Washington again and filed with Secretary Gage an appli- 
cation for the appointment of an Engineer as follows ; 

Hon. Lyman Gage, 

Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C. 
Dear Sir : 

I have the honor to request the appointment of Mr. W. C. Hogdkins, 
Assistant U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, to re-locate and mark, on the 
part of Maryland, the Boundary Line between Maryland and Virginia in 
the waters of Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds. I have the honor to be, 
Very respectfully yours, 

[Si£-ned] THOMAS S. HODSON, 

Cominissiojier for Mary /and. 

To which I received the following reply : 

Treasury Department, Washington, D. C. 

OFFICE OF the SECRETARY, 

November 22d, 1897. 
Mr. Thos. S. Hodson, 

No. 6 Lexington St., Baltimore, Md. 
Sir : 

In compliance with the request contained in your letter of the 10th 
inst., Mr. W. C. Hodgkins, an Assistant in the U. S. Coast and Geodetic 
Survey, has this day been directed to report to you for duty in marking the 
Boundary Line between Maryland and Virginia, in Pocomoke Sound and 

River. 

Respectfully yours, 

L. GAGE, 

Sei're/ary. 

These difficulties left but one more to be removed, vis: to agree 
upon and provide the permanent marks necessary to preserve the 
line after its re-location. This we substantially agreed upon, 
but we were also satisfied that the weather would not permit them 
to be put down at this season of the year and that we might take 
plenty of time to discuss and determine upon them. 



Report of Commissioner for Maryland. 7 

I then saw the Light House Board, which disclaimed any author- 
ity to pass upon the question and referred me to the War Depart- 
ment for further information. The Secretary of War referred me 
to Gen. Wilson, chief of the Engineer Corps of the Army. To this 
officer I submitted a Coast Survey Chart, with the line in question 
accurately laid down upon it by the Coast and Geodetic Survey, 
also the following letter : 

Baltimore, Md., November 2Qth, 1897. 
Hon. Russell A. Alger, 

Secretary of War, U. .S., Washington, D. C. 
Dear Sir : 

I have the honor to state that I have been appointed on the part of 
the State of Mar3^land, to re-locate and mark the Boundary Line between 
Maryland and Virginia, in Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds, jointly with 
Benj. T. Gunter, Jr., Esq., the Commissioner on the part of Virginia. In 
this application, which is made with the knowledge and consent of Mr. 
Gunter, 1 represent him as well as myself. 

As at present advised, we propose to put. up a permanent and prominent 
mark upon the land at "Horse Hammock" on Smith's Island, and one or 
two solid iron screw piles, from five to eight inches in diameter, in the water 
Eastward on a line running from the first named mark South 79°, 30'' East far 
enough and prominent enough to establish a range and give the bearing 
of the line. We do not propose to establish any monument whatever at "A" 
or "B" on the accompanying map, but we propose to mark from where the 
water is ten feet deep, between "B" and Fox Island, on the line, in the sam.e 
as Horse Hammock, by putting up two or more monuments in the water, 
to be used in making a range for the line. From Watkins Point we propose 
to proceed for some distance in the same way. None of the monuments so 
far spoken of can be construed as interfering with navigation in the slightest 
degree, but at the end of the line from Watkins Point, at the letter "C", a 
substantial monument placed there might be considered by Hon. Secretary 
of War, or some other persons, as an interference or obstruction. So again 
at the letter "D" on said chart. 

We therefore respectfully ask that this Department will indicate, at as early 
a day as possible, whether or not our action will meet with its approval. 
I will add that the line and the original marks (which are now gone) were 
approved soon after they were laid down by Act of Congress (1878). 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

THOS. S. HODSON, 

Commissioner ov the Part of Maryland. 



8 Report of Commissioner for Maryland. 

To this I received the following reply : 

Washington, December Sd, 1897. 
Sir : 

I have the the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 20th 
ultimo., stating that you have been appointed, jointly with Benj. T. Gunter, 
Jr., Esq., the Commissioner on the part of Virginia (whom you represent in 
this application as well as yourself) to re-locate and mark the Boundary Line 
between those States, in Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds; that you propose 
to erect certain piles or monuments to mark a portion of said Boundary 
Line in those waters, as shown on the chart accompanying your letter, and 
asking if there is any objection on the part of navigation interests to the 
erection of such structures. 

In reply I beg to inform you that there is no objection to the proposed 
piles or monuments from Horse Hammock East, provided they do not 
extend beyond the 11-foot curve on the line South 79°, 30^ East. 

Nor is there any objection to the proposed monuments from Watkins Point 
to "B" on line South 85°, W West, provided the one nearest the channel 
shall be inside the 11-foot curve. There is no objection to the proposed 
monuments at the points marked "C" and "E." 
Very respectfully, 

[Signed,] R. A. ALGER, 

Secretary of War. ' 
Thos. S. Hodson, Esq., 

Commissiofier on the part of Maryland to re-locate 

Boundary Line between Maryland and Virginia, 
Baltimore, Md. 



On December the 8th the Commissioners and Engineers of both 
States met in Baltimore, on board the Maryland Police Steamer, 
"Governor Thomas," and sailed together for Crisfield where we 
arrived before day-break the next day. We proceeded first to 
Watkins Point. We could there find no trace of the stone, set 
up by Lieut. Abbott, in 1883. We found two pieces of ungalvanized 
gas pipe, 2)4 inches in diameter, on the upper end of Fox Island. 
One of them (the Eastward) had not been moved. The other, 
originally set up on the marsh, was now in navigable water and 
had probably been down more than once and had been set up again 
very nearly in the same place as before. 



Report of Commissioner for Maryland. 9 

We then went to Smith's Island where we found a stone with a 
groove cut in the top, running from east to west, having on one 
side the letter M and the other the letter V. To the North of this, 
in the marsh, was a gas pipe similar to the one just described, and 
to the Eastward, near the shore and also near the storehouse of the 
late Johnson Evans, was another one. 

As there was no one living at Horse Hammock, some of our 
party were compelled to walk nearly three miles in the marsh to 
Drum Point, in order to find some one by whom it could be 
known whether or not they were in the same position as when left 
by Lieut. Abbott in 1883. Mr. Benjamin F. Marsh and others, on 
the evening of the 9th and the morning of the 10th, visited us at 
Horse Hammock, and verified the location of the stone and the gas 
pipe to the North of it. The other pipe originally stood out in the 
water and had been washed down -several times. It had remained 
down at times for several months and had been replaced each time 
nearer to the stone and pipe, but in the same line otherwise. This 
last pipe had marked the turn or angle — the stone not being at the 
end of the line. The rear-pipe near the stone, however, was on the 
continuation backward of the line out in Tangier Sound and intended 
in conjunction with the one on the shore as a range pole. The 
angle or turn must therefore, necessarily, be where the line through 
the stone prolonged East crossed the line made by the two range 
poles. The report of Lieut. Abbott did not make this clear, how- 
ever. I therefore addressed a letter to the War Department mak- 
ing inquiry of Lieut. Abbott as to the matter, to which he replied 
locating the angle just as we had previously done of our own 
motion. The two Commissioners therefore agreed on the angle 
at Horse Hammock. We also agreed upon the Eastward pipe at 
Fox Island and upon the line running through it to the post 
between Watkins Point and Green Harbor. 



10 Report of Commissioner for Maryland. 

By some error in the former survey this latter point, when located, 
was 324 feet South of its true location from Horse Hammock. As 
we were re-locating and not making an original location of the line, 
we felt bound to adhere to the pipe on Fox Island and to follow 
that line to the end at Watkins Point. 

We also found a piece of iron pipe, put down by Mr. Junkin, 
in 1885, under Aydelotte and Bagwell, at point "D" on the chart. 
We were also bound to adhere to this. The first serious difficulty 
we encountered was at point "C," lying between Watkins Point 
and "D," where no trace could be found of the buoy placed there 
by Junkin, in 1885. The bounder at Watkins being 334 feet too far 
South and that at "D" 240 feet too far West, the consequence was 
that if the line from Watkins was run East and the line from "D" 
South-Westwardly — each following the courses and distances of 
the Black and Jenkins award — they would not meet by 400 yards. 
Some arrangement therefore was necessary of this difficulty if we 
were to re-locate and i^e-mark the line, as we were commanded by 
our commissions to do. There were three ways only to settle it. 
The one which was most just to the parties and which was recom- 
mended by the Engineer for Maryland, was to put "C" in its true 
location, as calculated from Horse Hammock, and thus to move 
"C" a little to the North as compared with its location from Wat- 
kins, and a little to the Eastward as compared with its location by 
course and distance from "D." A preliminary post was put down 
from the steamer on January 18th, in order that a more accurate 
location of it might be made by triangulation afterward from the 
shore. This was done in the next day or two and the post was 
found to be neither East nor West of its proper location but about 
50 feet to the South of where it should have been. This was after- 
ward corrected — the post pulled up and put down in its proper 
place, 50 feet Northward. 



Report of Commissioner for Maryland. 11 

The error of 324 feet at Watkins Point, your Commissioner is 
satisfied, arose from an incident of the survey under Comissioners 
Bagwell and Aydelotte. The old line between Virginia and Mary- 
land had always been run so as to throw all the houses at Horse 
Hammock, in Maryland. At the time, when this survey was made, 
1883, Johnson Evans who lived there, was exceedingly desirous of 
being included in Virginia instead of Maryland, and it is said he 
appealed to the Commissioners to put him there. I was so told by 
a reliable gentleman on Smith's Island, on the afternoon of De- 
cember 9th, 1897, and I am informed that the fact was generally 
known on Smith's Island. 

The stone was set at this time at Horse Hammock by Bagwell 
and Aydelotte, therefore on the North of the houses instead of the 
South of them, where the line had always heretofore been — a diff- 
erence of just about 320 or 324 feet, to the disadvantage of Mary- 
land. 

In order to reach the point where the stone stands at Horse 
Hammock, Lieut. Abbott was compelled to change the line run- 
ning across Smith's Island from Sassafras Hammock to Horse 
Hammock, and to make it run more than one degree North of its 
true direction. In his report, page 37, he thus describes this line : 

"The azimuth given in the award is South 88°, %W Ea.st ; that is in azi- 
muth estimated from the South 271°, 30^. The azimuth of the line actually 
marked is 270°, 14^ 11 86-1 00'^" 

But the most singular feature of the deviation at Horse Ham- 
mock is yet to be told. When we come to the detail at Watkins 
Point, on page 39 of the report, he describes a stone monument 
which was there placed, and says : 

"This stone is 320 feet North of the line, and was only put in as a refer- 
ence point from which the true boundary could be found by simple meas- 
urement." 



12 Report of Commissioner i^or Maryland. 

The granite stone at Horse Hammock is about 320 feet North 
of what Black and Jenkins laid down as the line, and of what had 
before that been recognized as the State line — -along the patent of 
Pittscraft. The Northern part of which was patented in Maryland 
and the Southern pait in Virginia — but the stone at Watkins Point 
corresponded precisely with the stone at Horse Hammock — the 
true line, however, being declared to be 320 feet to the South of it. 

Lieut. Abbott lays down on his chart (filed with his report) to 
the South of the stone and the buildings at Horse Hammock, the 
point defined by the Latitude and Longitude as the end of the line 
at Horse Hammock, as fixed by the Black and Jenkins award, 
(page 38). It is marked by an X mark. 

It may be asked, why if an error at Horse Hammock was so 
evident I did not contend for the true location there? The answer 
is, that it appears that the point selected and marked by the stone 
was selected and agreed upon and marked by the Commissioners 
of the two States, each of which is bound by their act. When 
once solemnly agreed upon between them, each State is forever 
estopped from denying that any particular spot so agreed upon 
and marked is the true boundary. 

Again, the award calls for a line to run " thence across Smith's 
Island South 88°, 30' East 5,620 yards to the centre of Horse 
Hammock on the Eastern shore of Smith's Island, in Latitude 37°, 
57', 8"; Longitude 75°, 59', 20"." The Commissioners fixed centre 
at the stone where it now is. North of the houses at Horse Ham- 
mock ; the Latitude and Longitude fix the centre of the Hammock 
South of the houses. The Commissioners have not only said that 
the stone was the centre but it is actually the centre, and a point 
South of the houses is not the centre. But Black and Jenkins ex- 
pressly say in the award, which we have approved 

" In case of any inaccuracy in the described course or length of the line, 
or in the Latitude or Longitude of the place, the natural objects called for 
must govern." 



Report of Commissioner for Maryland. 13 

Under these admitted facts it would have been unworthy of my- 
self or my State to have carried on a baseless and useless conten- 
tion on this point. 

What was lost to us at Horse Hammock was restored to us at 
Watkins Point. It is fair to presume that the same rule held good 
out to point "C," in Pocomoke Sound. Unfortunately the can buoy 
which formerly marked this point, is gone, and we were compelled 
to re-locate it, so as to do violence neither to the agreed location 
at Watkins Point 324 feet too far South nor the one at "D" 240 
feet too far West. An East line from Watkins Point and the South- 
West line from " D," laid down in the award, would never meet 
and there would be a hopeless gap in the line. There was there- 
fore no possible way to discharge our duty of locating and mark- 
ing the line except by a resort to some such compromise, honor- 
able alike to both, as the one we finally adopted. 

The Engineers have also agreed upon the proper marks or 
monuments necessary to permanently mark and preserve the line 
as we have located it. We have procured detailed drawings of 
the same, which have been submitted to thoroughly responsible 
and reliable parties for estimates of their cost, which will be for- 
warded to you as soon as received by me. 

These will be mostly solid steel piling. They will be quite ex- 
pensive in the outset but it is safe to say that when once properly 
placed they will endure far beyond the life-time of any person now 
living. 

The report of the Engineers, now submitted, is only a brief out- 
line of their operations. A large number of observing stations 
were set up by them, and hundreds of observations were taken 
from them ; all these will be included as scientific matter in their 
real report, which will, as soon as possible, be submitted by them 
to the Commissioners and by us to our respective States. These 
will be exceedingly valuable and should be carefully preserved. 



14 Report of Commissioner for Maryland. 

I will say in conclusion, that we are especially fortunate in the 
Engineers selected by us — ^one a talented son of Harvard, the other 
of the University of Virginia. To say that they were careful and 
competent would afford but a faint idea of their ability and watch- 
fulness. Nothing escaped them, and every problem that arose 
(and there were many) was solved by them in its purely scientific 
aspect, without partiality or prejudice. I can truly say for Com- 
missioner Gunter and Mr. J. B. Baylor that in no instance did I 
detect on their part the slightest unfairness or desire to overreach, 
and if they detected any of either of these in Mr. Hodgkins or 
myself it was unintentional and unknown to us. 

The weather during our operations was as unpropitious and 
unfavorable as possible. Calm and clear weather are very necessary 
for successful triangulation. We had very little of either. It is 
agreed by the Engineers and stated in their report, that when the 
permanent marks are put down, observations shall be again taken 
and any irregularities or errors of location then discovered shall 
be corrected. 

THOS. S. HODSON, 

Couiniissioncr for Maryland. 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 



February 1st, 1898. 

Hon. ThoS. S. Hodson ) Commtssionets 

/ FOR THE 

AND > Survey of tbe BounDarv^ %inc 

, ^ ^ \ BETWEEN 

Hon. DCnj. 1. uUntei.y /lftar^lan& anMJirGima. 



Dear Sirs : 

We have the honor to submit the following Report 
upon the work recently executed by us in the delimitation of the 
Boundary Line between the States of Maryland and Virginia, 
under your general direction, as authorized by the Hon. the 
Secretary of the Treasury, November 20th, 1897. 

Respectfully yours, 

W. C. HODGKINS, C. E., 

(Harvard University.) 

Assisfanf C. and G. Survey Engineer 
for Maryland. 

J. B. BAYLOR, C. E., 

(University of Virginia.) 

Assistant C. and G. Survey Engineer 
for Virginia. 



Joint Report of the Engineers. 



It does not seem necesssary in this report to enter upon the var- 
ious questions in controversy leading up to the present survey and 
we shall therefore confine ourselves strictly to the methods and 
results of our own work. The Commissioners and the Engineers 
for both States, having met in Baltimore, left that place on the 
Maryland Police Steamer, "Governor Thomas," on the evening of 
December 8th, and arrived at Crisfield on the following morning. 

At that place the party was met by the Virginia Police Steamer, 
"Accomac," and the representatives of Virginia transferred their 
outfit to that boat. 

PRELIMINARY SEARCH FOR LANDMARKS. 

A joint examination of the boundary was at once begun, with a 
view to the discovery of any traces of the marks left by former 
surveys in 1883 and 1885. Although found at different times, a 
saving of words and space may be effected by at once describing 
all of such remains that were discovered. These were as follows: 

1. A stone post on Horse Hammock, near the Eastern shore of 
Smith's Island, marking the course of the line from Sassafras 
Hammock Eastward This stone, however, is not at the angle or 
turning point of the boundary. This conclusion was reached at 
the time of the examination of the stone on December 9th and was 
subsequently confirmed by a letter, dated January 3d, 1898, from 
Capt. F. V. Abbot, U. S. A., the officer who located the stone in 
1883. 



18 Joint Report of the Engineers. 

2. Two iron range poles on Horse Hammock, the more 
Western of which was nearly North of the stone post and the more 
Eastern was at the edge of the bank, on the shore of Tangier 
Sound. These had been intended to mark the direction of the 
boundary from Horse Hammock towards the point called "A" in 
the middle of Tangier Sound. 

The Western pole was found to be in its proper place, but the 
Eastern pole had been several times washed out by the encroach- 
ments of the waves and was therefore only approximately correct. 

3. Two iron range poles near the North end of Fox Island, 
placed to mark the direction of that part of the line lying between 
the point called "B" in the middle of Tangier Sound and Watkins 
Point, North of Green Harbor Island. Of these the Western pole 
was found in the edge of the Sound and somewhat inclined from 
the action of the wind and waves. The Eastern pole had been 
broken off, but the lower portion of it remained intact in the 
ground with a wooden post or stake driven deeply alongside of it. 

4. The remnant of an iron pipe, projecting a short distance 
above the bottom, at the point called "D" in Pocomoke Sound. 
This pipe was placed there on May 20th, 1885, and originally pro- 
jected 12 feet above the surface of the water. 

CONDITIONS LIMITING THE WORK. 

It should be clearly understood at the outset that Messrs. Black 
and Jenkins, in making the award of 1877, laid down the Boundary 
Line upon Coast Chart No. 33, of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic 
Survey's Series and that the courses, distances, Latitudes, and 
Longitudes mentioned in the award were all taken from the same 
chart. This method of procedure, owing to the difficulty of making 
with exact precision measurements from a small scale chart, led to 



Joint Report of the Engineers. . 19 

unavoidable discrepancies between the Latitudes and Longitudes 
given in the award and those obtained by computation from the 
successive courses and distances given. In this survey it has been 
considered that the given courses and distances, being more pre- 
cise and definite conditions between successive points of the 
boundary, should govern the work and that the Latitudes and 
Longitudes mentioned in the award must be considered as merely 
descriptive of the general positions of the points. And the dis- 
crepancies are, after all, of very slight importance. 

Both of the Commissioners concurred in this view of the case. 



METHODS. 

The practical work of the survey was carried on by means of 
triangulation, the only method applicable in cases where great 
distances are to be covered and especially where considerable 
water intervals are to be spanned. 

The observations were made with four repeating theodolities, 
furnished for the purpose by the Coast and Geodetic Survey. 
Sextants, tapes and other necessary implements were also furnished 
by the Survey. 

A base line for this work was obtained between two of the 
stations established by the Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1895, in 
the course of a survey of the Fox Islands for the State of Virginia. 
From this base line the triangulation was carried to Horse Ham- 
mock in the North-West and to Point "D" in the North-East. The 
two lighthouses at Crisfield harbor having been included in the 
triangulation are now available as points of reference for any of 
the points of the boundary line and we were also able to connect 
our work with a station of the old triangulation of the Coast 



20 Joint Report of the Engineers. 

Survey, by means of which we can now give correct Latitudes 
and Longitudes for the various points of the line. Copies of the 
observations, computations and results will be submitted at a later 
date, when finally completed. 

In the course of this work, nine signals w^ere built and twelve 
stations were occupied. 

LOCATION OF POINTS. 

We now come to the location of the angular points of the line 
and the establishment of the proper directions for those portions, 
both ends of which are not marked. As just stated above, the 
angular point at Horse Hammock was not marked in 1883 and 
this point was therefore recovered by laying off the proper 
directions from the stone post on the line West of the angle and 
from the rear pipe of the range line running towards point "A," 
the intersection of these two lines giving the desired point. 

From Horse Hammock to point "A," the terms of the award 
require that the line should run South 79°, 30' East 4,880 yards. 
The Western end of this line is marked, as above stated, by the 
angular point and the back range. The Eastern end is unmarked, 
the depth of water precluding any other than a floating mark at 
that point and the Commissioners deeming it unnecessary that the 
exact point should be indicated in this manner at the present time. 

From "A" to "B" the Boundary lies nearly in the middle of 
Tangier Sound, the course being South 10°, 30' West and the dis- 
tance 4,740 yards. This portion of the line is at present entirely 
unmarked, the same difficulty of great depth of water existing at 
'B" as already noted at "A." No oyster or crabbing ground is 
near this line. From "B" the line runs North 85°, 15', East 6,720 



Joint Report of the Engineers. 21 

yards, to Watkins Point, as fixed by the arbitrators in 1877, cross- 
ing on the way the Northern extremity of the Fox Island group. 

As above stated, two of the marks placed on Fox Tsland in 1883 
were recovered and the Eastern and evidently undisturbed of these 
was accepted by the Commissioners as a binding monument. 
From the careful triangulation made in the present survey, it was 
found that this part of the line was further South than it should 
be to conform to the courses and distances from the starting point 
at Horse Hammock. This discrepancy amounts to about three 
seconds of Latitude, or about 324 feet. It is no doubt due to the 
circumstance that in the survey of 1883 there was no connection 
between the work done at Horse Hammock and that done at Fox 
Island. 

The angle in the boundary line at Watkins Point was fixed by 
laying off a line through the mark found on Fox Island, on the 
course prescribed by the award of 1877, to a point having the 
same difference of Longitude from Horse Hammock as required 
by the courses and distances of the award. The point so found is 
of course the same distance South of the line fixed by the award 
as was the mark on Fox Island, but the line thus located has the 
advantage of dividing nearly midway the strait or passage between 
Green Harbor Island and the main marsh. From Watkins Point, 
the award requires that the Boundary Line should run due East 
7,880 yards to a point known as "C" in Pocomoke Sound, and that 
it should thence run North 47°, 30', East 5,220 yards, to another 
point known as "D," also in Pocomoke Sound. 

Watkins Point being fixed as above described and **D" being 
fixed by the iron pipe placed there in 1885 (and now recovered) it 
remained to locate the point called "C." As just stated, the mark 
at Watkins Point is about 324 feet further South than it should be 
to conform to the courses and distances from the starting point at 



22 Joint Report of the Enginpers. 

Horse Hammock and a line thence running due East 7,880 yards 
would locate the point "C" the same distance too far South. On 
the other hand it is found from our triangulation that the pipe at 
"D" is further West than it should be to agree with the courses 
and distances prescribed by the award as above. This discrepancy 
amounts to about 240 feet and if we locate the point "C" with 
reference to "D" we should likewise have "C" 240 feet too far 
West. We thus have two points for " C," either of which will 
satisfy two of the four requirements given by the courses and dis- 
tances of the award, but neither of which will satisfy them all. 
Nor is it possible to find any point which will so satisfy all the 
conditions. The two positions obtained by the above methods 
would lie nearly North-West and South-East from one another 
and 400 feet apart. It being obviously necessary to vary either 
courses or distances, or both, to find a suitable compromise, it was 
proposed by the Engineers and agreed by the Commissioners that 
the point "C" should be located at its true position in accordance 
with the terms of the award, starting from the mark at Horse 
Hammock and following the prescribed courses and distances. 
This location has the following advantages: 

It conforms to the intent of the award with reference to this par- 
ticular point. 

It reduces to a minimum the unavoidable gains or losses by either 
State. 

It preserves exactly the distance of 7,880 yards from the turn 
of the boundary at Watkins Point and varies the course only 48 
minutes. 

The bearing of "D" from "C" varies only 37 minutes from that 
given by the award, while the discrepancy in distance is only 57 
yards. 



Joint Report of the Engineers. 23 

All of the above discrepancies are so small as to be hardly notice- 
able on the map used by the arbitrators as a basis for the award of 
1877 and effect no property rights of material value. Taking into 
consideration the fact, that the line as now located is the result of 
several independent surveys, which have only in the present instance 
been brought into correlation with each other, it is a matter of 
congratulation that the almost unavoidable discrepancies should 
fall within so moderate limits. 



MARKS PLACED ON THE LINE. 

A number of marks, some intended to be permanent, while others 
were of a necessarily temporary character, were placed upon the 
land and in the water, to indicate the course of the Boundary. 

With reference to these, we wish it understood that as the loca- 
tions were necessarily made from preliminary computations of our 
observations, we reserve the right to correct any slight inaccuracies 
which may appear in the revision of our work. This course is 
deemed preferable to that of continuing the expense of the survey 
while this careful revision could be made. As it is understood that 
our temporary marks are to be replaced at an early date by per- 
manent structures, no harm can result from this course. The marks 
so placed are as follows : 

At Horse Hammock the angular point and the back range were 
marked by terra cotta drain pipes set in cement. The angular 
point, Horse Hammock, is 276 feet from the granite post located 
on the line across Smith's Island by Captain F. V. Abbot, U. S. A., 
in 1883, and already described in this report. The back range is 
distant 55.6 feet from the stone near the North-Western edge of 
the Hammock. 



34 Joint Report of the Engineers. 

At Fox Island, the Eastern and reliable point already marked by 
the remains of the iron pipe, was further secured by a drain pipe 
placed around the iron pipe and secured by cement. The West- 
ern range pole was also set back beyond present reach of the water 
and was secured by cement. 

At Watkins Point a pine tree about eight inches in diameter was 
firmly planted in the mud and its position is secured by two lines 
of ranges upon the marsh to the Northward. One of these lines of 
ranges passes through the triangulation station called "Sam" in 
this survey. "Sam," was used as a front range for this line. A 
drain pipe secured by cement, set in the marsh about 75 yards from 
the shore line, was used as a rear range for this line. The triangu- 
lation station, "Sam," was marked by an iron pipe driven in the 
marsh. The other line of ranges has a direction from Watkins 
Point of about 30° P^ast of North. The front range of this line was 
marked by a drain pipe secured by cement, set in the marsh near 
the shore line, and the rear range was marked by a drain pipe 
secured by cement, set in the marsh about 60 yards from the shore 
line. 

At a point approximately midway between Watkins Point and 
" C," a heavy pile, 30 feet in length, was driven JO or 12 feet into 
the bottom. 

At "C," a still heavier pile, 33 feet long, was driven down 12 feet 
and its position is secured by two lines of range marks upon the 
shore North-West and North from its location. At"D," a pile, 25 
feet long, was forced down some 10 feet. 

In accordance with your request, we submit in an appended 
paper, some suggestions as to the kind of permanent marks which 
we should think most likely to afford the desired definition of the 
line. 



Joint Report of the Engineers. 25 

We desire to acknowledge the cordial co-operation of the 
officers and men of the State Steamers, "Thomas" and "Accomac," 
in the course of the survey. 

Special commendation should be given to Mr. F. F. Weld of 
Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania, who acted as assistant observer and 
measured a large portion of the horizontal angles. 
Respectfully yours, 

W. C. HODGKINS, C. E., 

(Harvard University.) 

Assistani C. and G. Survey Engineer 
for Maryland. 

J. B. BAYLOR, C. E., 

(University of Virginia.) 

Assistant C. and G. Survey Engineer 
for Virginia. 

To 

Hon. Thos. S. Hodson, 

Commissioner for JMaryland. 
and 

Hon. Benj. T. Gunter, 

Commissioner for Virginia. 



28 Suggestions as to Marks for the Boundary, 

If it be desired to preserve the angular point of the boundary 
at Horse Hammock, some extensive measure for its protection 
will be necessary at an early date. 

A line of sheet piling with heavy rip rapping will be needed for 
that purpose. Whether the gain would justify the expense we 
leave for you to decide. 

W. C. HODGKINS, 
J. B. BAYLOR. 



FIGURES ILLUSTRATING THE ABOVE, 



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